Getting into the groove with Groovin’ Blocks

The first time I saw Groovin’ Blocks, I wasn’t really sure what to think of it. It looked like a Lumines clone, and a pretty unspectacular one at that. But then I started reading about it, and became very interested in the way the game blended the music and puzzle genres. So I decided to give it a try. After all, 800 Wii Points isn’t such a bad price, is it?

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

Groovin’ Blocks plays like a hybrid of a puzzle game like Lumines or Columns and a music game like Guitar Hero or Beatmania, chiefly in that you don’t play endlessly like in most puzzle games, but only until the end of the song. You score points by lining up three of the same color block, which isn’t really any different from your average puzzler. The game’s real difference, however, comes in the way it integrates rhythm into the mix. You see, if you press down on the D-pad to drop a block in time with the beat of the song, you earn multipliers. Drop enough blocks in time with the background music, and you can build up huge multipliers, in turn leading to higher scores. It quickly gets addictive.

The visuals are nothing flashy, but they get the job done. The music, however, is another story entirely. Make no mistake about it, you’ll have the tunes in Groovin’ Blocks stuck in your head long after you’ve finished playing it. The game’s music is all techno, and it’s very well done and very catchy.

While it may look like nothing special at first glance, Groovin’ Blocks is a great hybrid of the puzzle and music genres that should not be missed by fans of either. It’s a deceptively addictive, fun little gem that at only 800 Wii Points is a great value for those looking for a puzzler on the WiiWare service.